Local Guide
 8 recommended gourmet souvenirs to buy near Sendai Station

Sendai is blessed with seafood from the sea and the mountains. In addition to foods grown in this land, gourmet foods that showcase the skills of Sendai's craftsmen are all things you will want to take home as souvenirs. It may be difficult to choose just a few from the tempting array of products lined up in souvenir stores. We will therefore introduce some recommended gourmet foods packed with Sendai's delicacies. All of them are available in and around Sendai Station. Please buy them not only as gifts for your loved ones, but also for yourself.

A new type of monaka with a mixture of Japanese and Western flavors, filled with isunisei butter

 Comes in a stylish box with a coelacanth on it. It will surely be appreciated as a gift!
Comes in a stylish box with a coelacanth on it. It will surely be appreciated as a gift!

This is a new type of store by "kazunori ikeda individuel," known as a famous macaron store in Sendai. We recommend the "Coelacanth Monaka," the store's signature product. The French "isney butter" used gives it a luxurious milky taste that goes well with the moderately sweet bean paste produced in Tokachi. The flavor is further accented with Guerande salt.
The store, with its impactful name and design, was created with the idea of "cherishing the taste of good old sweets and being loved beyond time," just like the coelacanth that has remained unchanged since ancient times. The store can also be used as a café. The shop is also available for use as a café, where customers can enjoy a variety of elaborate cakes, gelato, parfait, and other gorgeous-looking sweets.

Product name and price: "Coelacanth Monaka" (6 pieces in a simple box): 1,980 yen and up
Shelf life: 10 days at room temperature

Local Guide Comment
These stores are popular with customers queuing even before they open. Coelacanth Monaka" has a strong salty taste, making it a perfect match not only for tea time snacks, but also for wine and other Western liquors. The "Coelacanth Drayaki" with its chewy dough is also recommended.
maison coelacanthe
  • Address Sankyo Bldg. 1F, 2-2-3 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai MAP
  •  Direction 6 minutes walk from JR Sendai Station
  •  Business hours 11:00-19:00 *Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00
  •  Closed January 1
  •  Parking None

Soft and fluffy Sendai's famous sweets as a souvenir for your loved ones

 Made in the image of the famous moon floating in the sky of Miyagino where hagi (bush clovers) are in full bloom.
Made in the image of the famous moon floating in the sky of Miyagino where hagi (bush clovers) are in full bloom.

Founded in 1947, this confectionery store continues to make Sendai's famous sweets. Haginotsuki," which is widely known throughout the country, is a confectionary conceived from sponge cake and cream puffs. The soft and fluffy sponge cake dough is filled with a rich and mild cream for a refined taste. It can be heated in a microwave oven or chilled in a refrigerator for a different taste.
The founder of the company wanted people to be able to bring home delicious sweets from Sendai with peace of mind, so he applied oxygen absorber to the confectionery for the first time in Japan. In 1978, Toa Domestic Airlines (now Japan Airlines) adopted "Haginotsuki" as a tea cakes for its flights from Sendai to Fukuoka. This was one of the reasons for the spread of Haginotsuki throughout Japan.

Product name and price: "Hagi no Tsuki" 6 pieces, 1,500 yen and up.
Shelf life: 10 days at room temperature.
Shops】Hirose-dori Omachi Honten, Souvenir Shop Sendai 1, 3, 7 (in Sendai Station), etc.

Local Guide Comment
At Kasho Sanzen, you will also find products using Sendai's specialty Zunda. The "Sendai Famous Zunda Mochi" is a rice cake filled with Zunda bean paste and made into an easy-to-eat size. It is individually wrapped and can be carried around at room temperature, making it a good souvenir.
Confectionery Sanzen, Hirose-dori Omachi Honten
  • Address 2-14-18 Omachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 8 min. walk from Omachi Nishi Koen Station on the Sendai Municipal Subway
  •  Business hours 9:00-19:00
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 022-263-3000
  •  Parking Free of charge

Daifuku, made with carefully selected domestic ingredients, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture

 From left to right: Daifuku with green tea crème, crème fraiche, zunda crème, and hojicha crème
From left to right: Daifuku with green tea crème, crème fraiche, zunda crème, and hojicha crème

Operated by "Ocha no Igata," a Japanese tea specialty store established in 1920, this store offers sweets and sweet treats based on the concept of "eating tea.
The store's most popular product is "Kikufuku," a Daifuku filled with the tea shop's specialties. The soft rice cake made from Miyagi Prefecture's "Miyakogane" glutinous rice is filled with moderately sweet red bean paste and light and fluffy whipped cream, resulting in a texture that melts in the mouth. There are four flavors: fresh cream, green tea, zunda, and hojicha. The fresh cream from Hokkaido, matcha green tea and hojicha green tea from Uji, Kyoto, and other carefully selected ingredients give the cake a rich aromatic flavor. Sold frozen, they are ready to eat after one hour of natural thawing.
Some of the more than 30 stores in Miyagi Prefecture also have Dining Areas, offering a variety of dishes centering on chasoba and sweet dishes using matcha green tea.

Product name and price: "Kikufuku" 4 kinds of assortment, 4 pieces, 570 yen and up.
Shelf life: 180 days from frozen storage, or 48 hours after thawing if kept refrigerated (5°C or below).
Available at: Ocha-no-Igata Kikusui-an Espar Store, JR Sendai Station Store, Kikusui-an Zunda Tea House, etc.

Local Guide Comment
Kikufuku" is one of the standard souvenirs of Sendai, and was even featured in a scene from a popular boys' manga. The store also offers a popular modernized version of Zunda mochi called "Sendai Hitokuchi Zunda Mochi.
Kikusuian (Ocha no Igata Kikusuian Kikufuku Honpo)
  • Address 2F, JR Sendai Station, 1-1-1 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai MAP
  •  Business hours 08:15-20:45
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 022-222-2021

Luxurious and spicy raayu (Chinese chili oil) filled with the delicious taste of beef tongue

 Beef tongue Sendai raayu
Beef tongue Sendai raayu" is characterized by the chewy texture of the beef tongue cut into large pieces and the spreading flavor. A total of six varieties are available, including a dry flavor.

Beef tongue Sendai raayu, which is 90% beef tongue, is the best-selling product of Jinchu, a company that processes and sells Sendai's famous beef tongue and operates restaurants and other businesses. The taste of beef tongue varies greatly depending on the part. The "sagari," the base of the beef tongue used in this product, is a difficult part to serve in Restaurants because it is stringy and tough, but it is cooked slowly until it becomes tender. The flavor and richness of the beef tongue, cut into large chunks, and the spiciness of the raayu (Chinese chili oil) added with sesame oil, chili pepper, garlic, etc., is a taste that once you try it, you will become addicted to it. It is not only a perfect match for hot rice, but can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as with noodle dishes and hot pots. In addition to raayu, products such as spicy olive oil and rice oil with ginger are also available. It is a great souvenir to bring home as an easy way to enjoy Sendai's beef tongue.

Product name and price: "Beef tongue Sendai raayu" 950 yen or more per piece.
Shelf life: Approximately 240 days at room temperature.
Beef tongue stand Yuriage Honten, Souvenir Shop Sendai No. 1 and 2 (in Sendai Station), etc.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to raayu products, the store also sells products such as a luxurious set that allows you to enjoy a whole beef tongue and rare veal beef tongue, which is hard to find. You can enjoy delicious beef tongue at home after returning from Sendai.
Jinchu Ushitan Stand Yuriage Honten
  • Address 3-9-1 Yuriage-higashi, Natori-shi, Miyagi, Japan (Beef tongue stand Yuriage main store) MAP
  •  Direction 2 min. walk from Yuriage Port Morning Market bus stop on the Yuriage Line "Tonarin-go Yuriage Port Morning Market".
  •  Business hours 10:30-19:30
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 022-302-5840
  •  Parking Available

Bite-sized fish cake, perfect as a snack

 Both the 5-piece and 8-piece packages are individually wrapped, making them perfect for a snack when you are hungry.
Both the 5-piece and 8-piece packages are individually wrapped, making them perfect for a snack when you are hungry.

Since its establishment in 1935, this fish cake specialty store has been loved as the godfather of "Sasa-kamaboko. The popular, round, bite-sized "Cheese Ball" is made with melted cream cheese wrapped in a fluffy steamed fish paste. Together with the "Zao Cheese Ball" made with rich Zao cream cheese, the "Cheese Ball" is widely popular among men and women of all ages. Star-shaped cheese balls are also available during the summer in honor of Tanabata (Star Festival) and heart-shaped cheese balls for Valentine's Day.
In addition to the Abe no Sasa-kamaboko, a standard product that offers the flavor of fish and a plump texture, customers can also enjoy other seasonal ingredients in sasa-kamaboko, such as "Manpuku Scallops" made from Japanese scallops in summer and large, mouth-watering "Shrimp Yaki" in winter.

Product Name・Price】"Cheese Balls" 5 pieces, 900 yen and up
Shelf life: 1 week (must be refrigerated)
Shop】Honten store, Souvenir Shop Sendai 2, 6, 8 (in Sendai Station), etc.

Local Guide Comment
Abe no Sasa-kamaboko, the store's specialty, can be served with wasabi (Japanese horseradish) as a snack or on top of a salad. Just before eating, lightly sear the fish in a frying pan or toaster, or warm it in a microwave oven to accentuate the fish's savory flavor.
Abe Kamaboko-Ten, Main Store
  • Address 2-3-18 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 5 min. walk from JR Sendai Station
  •  Business hours 10:00-18:30
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 022-221-7121
  •  Parking None

Enjoy the taste of Neapolitan, which was ranked No. 1 in Japan, easily!

 The hamburgers are available in a choice of
The hamburgers are available in a choice of "golden ratio hamburger steak" or "100% Sendai beef hamburger steak," both of which have been available since the company's founding. The paper napkin and chopstick bag design are also noteworthy.

At Sendai Station, you can easily take out the taste of HACHI, a famous western-style restaurant loved by locals, and enjoy two major specialties, the "Sendai Beef Hamburger Neapolitan", which is a must-have item for your memory. The restaurant's signature Neapolitan won the Grand Prix at the first "Kagome Neapolitan Stadium" competition (2103) held by Kagome Co. The rich, fresh tomato sauce is intertwined with thick, glutinous noodles and topped with a thick, juicy hamburger steak, creating a highly satisfying dish.
Also of note is the "Kopelitan," a takeout-only dish. Created as a project for a popular TV program, it is a Neapolitan dish served between two pieces of coppé bread. It is a more convenient way to take home Neapolitan.
The Sendai main store is located right next to the south ticket gate of the Shinkansen, making it easy to purchase before boarding the train.

Sendai Beef Hamburger Neapolitan 3,850 yen (tax included)
Best before date] On the same day

Local Guide Comment
The cute exterior of the main Sendai restaurant is eye-catching, and the atmosphere inside is warm and inviting. The menu illustrations on each seat are said to be handwritten by the current chairman. If you have time, please take your time to enjoy a meal in the restaurant.
Restaurant HACHI Sendai Main Store
  • Address In front of the south ticket gate of Shinkansen on the 3rd floor of JR Sendai Station, 1-1-1 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi MAP
  •  Direction JR Sendai Station
  •  Business hours 10:00~21:30(L.O.21:00)
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  Parking None

Unique sweet fish paste popular among children and women

 We recommend eating it with the included honey maple or jam you have at home!
We recommend eating it with the included honey maple or jam you have at home!

A long-established fish cake specialty store established in 1934. While preserving the traditional taste, we also sell new kamaboko products of our own creation. Doraboko," shaped like dorayaki, is a sweet fish paste invented by the then president for children who do not like fish. It is made of soft pancake-like dough kneaded with fish paste and sandwiched between whipped cheese cream. It is popular as a healthy sweet treat because of its moderate sweetness and lack of fish-specific flavor. The sweetness is further enhanced by the accompanying honey maple drizzle.
When you visit the store, you should also take a look at the standard item "Sasa-kamaboko" and "Oto-fu-age-kamaboko Muu," which is the best-selling item at the Sendai Station store. We recommend that you buy some for yourself, not only as a souvenir, but also as another dish for your dinner table, as you can take in the nutritional benefits of fish.

Product name and price: "Doraboko" (3 pieces), 648 yen and up
Shelf life: 7 days (must be refrigerated)
Sendai Main Store, Souvenir Shop Sendai 1 & 2 (in Sendai Station), etc.

Local Guide Comment
The company also holds activities such as "Sasa-kamaboko Hand Grilling Experience" and "Arrangement Recipe Contest" to make Sasa-kamaboko, a specialty of Sendai, more familiar to people. Please come and try the delicious kamaboko as an addition to your regular meals.
Matsushima Kamaboko Honten Sendai Honten
  • Address 2-19-26 Honmachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 15 min. walk from JR Sendai Station
  •  Business hours 10:00-19:00 (L.O.D. 21:00)
  •  Closed Thursdays
  •  TEL 022-263-6088
  •  Parking No charge; purchases of 2,000 yen or more will receive a "Machikuru Ticket" (common parking service ticket) that can be used at participating parking lots in the central Sendai shopping district.

Japanese and Western sweets unique to Shiogama, a port town with a long history

 From left to right:
From left to right: "Algae Nanakasabure" and "East Pacific". Both can be purchased from a single piece.

A Japanese and Western confectionery with a long history established in Shiogama City in 1918. Many kinds of confectionaries are available, mainly traditional confectionaries and original products of Miyagi Prefecture.
The most popular item is the butter cookie "Toheiyo," which is handmade one by one by artisans. By dipping them in rum syrup, they have a moist texture and mellow flavor, giving them a simple yet luxurious taste. The packaging is also notable for its depiction of a galleon sailed by Tsunenaga Shikura, a vassal of the Sendai Date clan, bound for Rome.
Another specialty, "Mo-nakasabure," is a new type of confectionery that combines a sable dough made from rice flour produced in Miyagi Prefecture with Shiogama algae salt and gibasa (seaweed), and a monaka. The pleasantly crispy texture and sweetness are addictive. Enjoy the unique taste of Shiogama, a port town well-known by the locals.

Product name and price: "Higashi Taiheiyo" 140 yen per piece, "Mo Nanakasabure" 175 yen per piece.
Shelf life】Both can be stored at room temperature for approximately 2 months.
Available at: Baikado Honten Store, Baikado Honmachi Store, Baikado Katsura Store, A-PAL Sendai Tohoku Meguri Iro to Toro, Souvenir Shop Sendai 4, 6, 9 (in Sendai Station), Fujisaki stores, and other stores.

Local Guide Comment
The shop also sells sweets unique to Miyagi Prefecture, such as sweets using the traditional sweets "yubeshi" and "zunda," as well as other tasteful Japanese sweets to remind you of the changing of the seasons.
Umekado Main Store
  • Address 4-7-3 Kitahama, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 3 minutes drive from JR Higashi Shiogama Station
  •  Business hours 9:00-17:30, Sundays and national holidays: 17:00
  •  Closed January 1 & 2
  •  TEL 022-362-1043
  •  Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.